Chapter 12 · The Freedom She Chose

Chapter 12

Ms. Parker set the records down on the table.Her tone was calm, but she wasn't backing down."Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Alden, I understand that families have different arrangements," she said."But once a child enters the gifted class, the transition period is crucial," Ms. Parker said."If the home environment prevents her from getting enough sleep or finishing her homework, the school has to remind the guardians," Ms. Parker added.James's face turned ashen."Ms. Parker, all you see are the results," he said."You have no idea what her mom is like with her," James said."The kid's under a lot of pressure and just wants a different environment. Is that so wrong?" James asked.Ms. Parker turned to Anna."Anna, you can speak for yourself," she said."Do you want to switch environments because your mom keeps pushing you to study, or is it because your dad and grandma said things would be easier over there?" Ms. Parker asked.Anna bit her lip.Her hands were still trembling.But this time, she didn't look away."Both," she said.Her voice was barely above a whisper."I feel like Mom is too strict," she said."I also think I'd be happier with Dad and Grandma," Anna said."Dad bought me a phone," Anna said."He said Mom was just trying to scare me," Anna said."He said that once I moved in, I could do whatever I wanted," Anna said.James suddenly looked up."Anna!" he shouted.Anna shrank back, startled.I still didn't speak up for her.Ms. Parker frowned."Mr. Thompson, please let the child finish," she said.Grace was getting flustered."What's wrong with buying her a phone?" she asked."What kid doesn't have a phone these days?" Grace asked."Her mom watches her like she's a prisoner all day long," Grace said."If the kid's feeling down, what's wrong with us cheering her up as her family?" Grace asked.I looked at Grace."It's fine to cheer her up," I said."But after that, who's going to take responsibility?" I asked.Grace retorted stubbornly."Haven't we been responsible?" she asked.I pushed the tardiness records toward her."Here's the record for weeks one through three," I said."She was late three times," I continued."She missed four assignments."She left two major questions blank on her math test."She finished her reading homework in the middle of the night."Is this what you call being responsible?" I asked.Grace glanced at the paper and quickly looked away."That's because she just wants to have fun," she said."Don't you have to watch her all the time at your place too?"You've pampered her so much she can't do anything for herself, and now it's obvious at our place."Anna's tears started falling again."Grandma, I wasn't just messing around," she said."I just wanted to do my homework," Anna said."But you kept calling me over," Anna said.Grace slammed her hand on the table."All I ever ask you to do are just little chores around the house," she said."You're a girl. If you don't even learn these things, how are you supposed to manage when you grow up?"Ms. Parker's expression darkened."Mrs. Alden, a child's gender has nothing to do with her right to learn," she said."She's not there to do chores for you."And she shouldn't be expected to look after a pregnant woman."James scoffed."So, Ms. Parker, is everyone finished now?" he asked."Her mom only called you here to make me look bad, didn't she?" James asked.I said, "You don't need to shift the blame onto someone else.""Last night, Anna herself said she didn't want to go back."And today, she's the one saying it again."James glared at me."Cut the act," he said."She's only thirteen. You really think she came up with all that herself?" James asked.Anna suddenly looked up."I can," Anna said.Her voice was still shaky.

Chapter 12